Re: [Harp-L] The Price of Harmonicas

[joe leone <3n037@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I thin there's something that the manufacturers haven't thought of.  
Or maybe they did and can't do anything about it. Chromo players (for  
the most part) are thinning down. I would venture that the majority  
are retirement age. This could mean 2 things. Some are set for life  
and can buy anything they want. Because no more kids to send to  
school, or carry in other ways. OR an income that is reduced to the  
point where they can no longer buy at the levels that they once did.  
I use the 1% smo-joe rule of thumb.

1995 When I made $52,313 a year I could afford $523.oo a year for my  
harmonica hobby
1990 When I made $34,875, I could afford $349.oo
1985 When I made $23,250, it was $232.oo
1980 At $15,500, it was $155.oo
1975 At $10,333, it was $103.oo
1970 At $6,888, it was $69.oo
1965 And at $4,592, it was $46.oo

Now that I make $38,984 it's $390.oo.. Ergo, I have actually LOST  
pace, while prices keep rising. Right now I could use some harps, but  
am looking at wrecking my budget for the entire year. Oh what to do,  
what to do? Oh well, it's all relative.

smokey-joe


On Mar 20, 2010, at 1:46 PM, Bill Kumpe wrote:

> The price of harmonicas and the Hohner price increase, the "me too"  
> Suzuki
> price increase, etc. has already been discussed at length.  But, I  
> would
> observe that the fact that the subject keeps coming back around would
> indicate that the industry has reached a tipping point concerning its
> prices.  The very fact that people are thinking that much about  
> harp prices
> indicates a change in the marketplace thinking.  I don't remember  
> seeing
> these discussions a year or two ago and frankly, a year or two ago,  
> I didn't
> think that much about harp prices.  If I wanted a harp, I just  
> bought it.
> But, my off the cuff limit was apparently around 20 to 25 bucks>   
> But, now
> that many quality harp prices are double that, I have pretty well quit
> buying at least one new harp per month as I did for a long time.   
> And, while
> I am exploring brands that I had previously ruled out, I am  
> thinking about
> repair rather than replacement or my existing harps.
>
> Bill Kumpe
> Tulsa, OK